Low metal loaded, alumina supported, catalyst compositions and amination process

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides catalyst compositions useful for transamination reactions. The catalyst compositions have a catalyst support that includes transitional alumina, use a low metal loading (for example, less than 25 wt. %), and do not require the presence of rhenium. The catalyst compositions are able to advantageously promote transamination of a reactant product (such as the transamination of EDA to DETA) with excellent activity and selectivity, and similar to transaminations promoted using a precious metal-containing catalyst.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present non-provisional patent application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/587,355, filed on Oct. 6, 2009, which application claims priority under 35 USC 119(e) from U.S. Provisional Patent Application having Ser. No. 61/195,434, filed on Oct. 6, 2008, by King et al. and entitled LOW METAL LOADED, ALUMINA SUPPORTED, CATALYST COMPOSITIONS AND AMINATION PROCESS; both of which are fully incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to metal-containing catalyst compositions. More particularly, the invention relates to catalysts that include cobalt, nickel, or copper, or a mixture thereof, with low total metal loadings on an acidic mixed metal oxide support. The invention also relates to amination reactions using the metal-containing catalyst compositions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Linear ethyleneamines are known for their many uses in industry. For example, ethylenediamine (EDA) (1,2-diaminoethane) is a strongly basic amine in the form of a colorless liquid having an ammonia-like odor. EDA is a widely used building block in chemical synthesis, with approximately 500,000,000 kg being produced in 1998. EDA is used in large quantities for production of many industrial chemicals, such as bleach activators, fungicides, chelating agents, plastic lubricants, textile resins, polyamide resins, and fuel additives. Diethylenetriamine (DETA) can be used primarily as an intermediate to manufacture wet-strength paper resins, chelating agents, ion exchange resins, ore processing aids, textile softeners, fuel additives, and corrosion inhibitors. Triethylenetetramine (TETA) has such major applications as epoxy curing agents, as well as the production of polyamides and oil and fuel additives.

It is recognized that linear polyalkylene polyamines (such as EDA, DETA and TETA) do not have the same industrial uses and demands as cyclic polyalkyleneamines such as piperazine (PIP). As such, it can be desirable to develop a process with sufficient selectivity in forming a linear polyalkylene polyamine to produce an amine composition with a relatively high ratio of a desired linear polyamine (e.g., DETA) to PIP.

One approach in producing linear ethyleneamines is reductive amination. Reductive amination (also known as reductive alkylation) involves reacting an amine or ammonia with a carbon-containing material. Reductive amination involves the conversion of a carbonyl group (typically a ketone or an aldehyde) to an amine. A classic named reaction is the Mignonac Reaction (1921) involving reaction of a ketone with ammonia over a nickel catalyst, for example, in a synthesis of alpha-phenylethylamine starting from acetophenone.

Reductive amination produces a variety of products, some of which have greater economic value than others, depending upon current market requirements. For example, the reductive amination of monoethanolamine (MEA) produces lower molecular weight linear ethyleneamines, such as EDA, aminoethylethanolamine (AEEA), and DETA. A minor amount of higher linear ethyleneamines, for example TETA and tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA) are also formed. In addition, cyclic ethyleneamines, such as PIP, hydroxyethylpiperazine (HEP), and aminoethylpiperazine (AEP) are also formed. Cyclic ethyleneamines tend to be less valuable than acyclic ethyleneamines.

Accordingly, for maximum economic benefits the catalyst compositions used in commercial reductive amination processes should be selective to the desired mixture of amine products, in addition to being highly active.

It is appreciated in reductive amination art that reductive amination catalysts must first be reduced before effecting the reaction, and then hydrogen gas employed during the course of the reaction in order to maintain catalytic activity and selectivity. During the reaction, reductive amination typically requires addition of ammonia.

One drawback relating to the catalysts and processes that have been described for reductive amination to produce linear polyamines is that they do not typically provide high selectivity to DETA. In these processes, as MEA conversions are increased to produce more DETA, PIP production becomes a significant problem. PIP can be formed from ring closure of DETA or AEEA. Catalysts which are promoted with precious metals are known to show improved activity and selectivity for the reductive amination of MEA to EDA; however, high levels of DETA in the product mix result in concurrent high levels of PIP. As a result, there is still a need for improved catalysts which give high EDA and DETA selectivities while minimizing the amount of PIP formed in the product mixture.

The reductive amination of lower aliphatic alkane derivatives, i.e., diols such as ethylene glycol and alkanolamines such as MEA, is a commercially important family of processes. A variety of catalyst compositions for this purpose is found in the literature and is used commercially. Many of these catalyst compositions are based on nickel/rhenium mixtures (such as nickel/rhenium/boron catalyst compositions and the like) deposited on a support material.

As an alternative to reductive amination, linear polyamines can be prepared by transamination. Transamination is a transfer of an amino group from one chemical compound to another, or the transposition of an amino group within a chemical compound.

Many of the catalysts disclosed for transamination are high metal loaded catalysts. Specifically, Raney nickel catalysts have been employed. These catalysts typically have small particle sizes, which makes their use in fixed bed processes difficult. To address difficulties with small particle sizes, more recent approaches have involved associating the catalytic metals with a support. However, such supported catalysts have typically included very large catalytic metal loading, and such high catalytic metal loading can create its own drawbacks. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,053,247 (Lif et al.) describes particulate catalysts containing 26 to 65% by weight of nickel on an oxide carrier. Catalyst compositions including such high levels of catalytic metals can be pyrophoric, more expensive, and do not appear to offer high selectivities for desirable transamination products (e.g., DETA).

Transamination reactions are typically performed at lower temperatures than reductive amination. A general problem in transamination processes of EDA to DETA and higher polyethylenepolyamines is the fact that at moderate temperatures and pressures, these processes can result in too high a proportion of cyclic ethyleneamine compounds, such as PIP, which requires that the EDA conversion be kept low.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides catalyst compositions for the amination of target reactants. In studies associated with the present invention, the inventive catalyst compositions have been shown to be advantageous for the transamination of ethylenediamine (EDA) to diethylenetriamine (DETA). The catalyst compositions use a low metal loading and a catalyst support that includes transitional alumina. The inclusion of these two features in the catalyst composition provides remarkable activity and selectivity for transamination. The catalyst compositions are able to eliminate, or at least significantly reduce, the presence of a precious metal such as rhenium while maintaining a similar activity and selectivity to catalysts based on nickel/rhenium combinations. The elimination of most or all precious metals from the catalyst composition provides an economic advantage, such as a lower catalyst cost. Further, the use of a supported catalyst at low metal loadings provide processing advantages over small particle sized Raney nickel and other high metal loaded catalysts.

According to one aspect, the invention provides a catalyst composition comprising a support portion and a catalyst portion. The support portion comprises an acidic mixed metal oxide comprising a transitional alumina and a second metal oxide. In The catalyst portion is 25 wt. % or less of the catalyst composition and comprises one or more metals selected from the group consisting of cobalt, nickel, or copper. In the catalyst composition there is no rhenium, or less than 0.01 wt. % rhenium.

In some aspects the transitional alumina comprises delta or theta phase alumina.

In another aspect, the catalyst composition of the invention is used in an amination process. The method includes a step of contacting the catalyst composition of the invention to promote amination of a reactant to provide an aminated product. In some cases the amination process is a transamination process. In particular, the catalyst composition is used in a method to promote the transamination of EDA to DETA.

Surprisingly, the catalyst composition of the invention showed similar activity and selectivity to a nickel/rhenium catalyst for the transamination of EDA to DETA. The catalyst composition of the invention was active at moderate temperatures and pressures, and provided good selectivity to the desired product (DETA) while minimizing unwanted cyclic products, including piperazine and aminoethylpiperazine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a graph of EDA conversion in the presence of different metal catalysts at varying temperatures

FIG. 2 is a graph of EDA conversion in the presence of different metal catalysts versus the presence of AEP in the reaction product containing DETA.

FIG. 3 is a graph of EDA conversion in the presence of different metal catalysts versus the ratio of DETA to PIP in the reaction product mixture.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The embodiments of the present invention described below are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed in the following detailed description. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art can appreciate and understand the principles and practices of the present invention.

All publications and patents mentioned herein are hereby incorporated by reference. The publications and patents disclosed herein are provided solely for their disclosure. Nothing herein is to be construed as an admission that the inventors are not entitled to antedate any publication and/or patent, including any publication and/or patent cited herein.

In some aspects, the invention provides a catalyst composition for transamination of amine-containing solutions, the catalyst composition comprising a support portion and a catalyst portion. According to the inventive aspects, the support portion can comprise an acidic mixed metal oxide. The acidic mixed metal oxide can comprise a transitional alumina and a second metal oxide. In some aspects of the invention, the transitional alumina comprises at least 50 weight percent of the support portion.

Transitional aluminas, or activated aluminas, are described in the Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, Volume 2, 5th Edition, Kirk-Othmer (1992, page 221 et seq.) as a series of partially hydroxylated aluminum oxides (excluding alpha aluminas which are anhydrous in nature). In general, as a hydrous alumina precursor is heated, hydroxyl groups are driven off, leaving a porous solid structure. As the activation temperature increases through the transitional phases, the crystal structures become more ordered, thus allowing for identification of transitional aluminas by x-ray diffraction (hereafter “XRD”). The sequences of transition are affected not only by the starting materials, but also by the coarseness of crystallinity, heating rates, and impurities. The following transitions are generally accepted as the transitions when the starting material is coarse gibbsite in air:

-   -   gibbsite→boehmite→gamma→delta→theta→alpha alumina.         Of the transitional aluminas described above, the delta and         theta phases can be particularly useful as a support portion of         a catalyst composition in accordance with the invention. Other         useful aluminas include mixtures of transitional aluminas and         aluminas such as gamma/theta, gamma/delta, delta/theta,         theta/alpha phases, or combinations thereof.

Transitional alumina carriers may be characterized using an X-ray diffractometer by methods known in the art. The following Table 1 lists the accepted 2-theta values for the aluminas, as supplied by the Joint Committee on Powder Diffraction Standards International Center for X-Ray Diffraction:

TABLE 1 Aluminas gamma 19.58 31.94 37.60 39.49 45.79 60.76 66.76 delta 17.65 19.49 21.82 31.14 32.78 34.74 36.96 39.49 45.55 46.54 47.57 50.67 60.03 61.35 62.26 64.18 66.76 67.31 73.33 75.37 theta 15.5 16.25 19.54 31.509 32.778 34.939 36.743 38.871 39.911 44.856 46.4242 47.5849 50.6803 51.3931 52.6308 54.5575 56.7218 58.7033 61.2553 62.3387 64.0501 65.3714 67.4008 alpha 25.5 35.4 38.0 43.6 52.8 57.6 63.05 66.7 68.4

In some aspects of the invention, alumina can be employed in its hardest and most stable allotropic state, alpha-alumina (α-alumina) as a combination with a transitional alumina. In other embodiments, alumina can be employed in its most amorphous state, gamma-alumina, in combination with a transitional alumina. However, in either of these cases, the transitional forms of alumina are predominant in the alumina mixture.

As noted above, alpha alumina is not considered a transitional phase of alumina. Rather, alpha alumina is the most thermodynamically stable form of alumina, and once formed, this phase is irreversible. Typically, then, alpha alumina is not present in a significant amount in the support portion of the inventive catalyst compositions. Although the crystallinity of alpha alumina is highly distinctive when compared to the transitional aluminas, in mixed phases that contain small amounts of alpha alumina, the amount of alpha alumina present is not easily quantified. However, due to the extremely low surface areas of alpha aluminas, useful mixed phases containing alpha alumina can be determined by those which fall within the surface area ranges described herein.

Similarly, while gamma alumina is not considered a transitional phase of alumina, it may also be present in the support portion. As with alpha alumina, gamma alumina is not typically present in a significant amount in the support portion. Useful mixed phases containing gamma alumina can be determined by those which fall within the surface area ranges described elsewhere herein.

Generally speaking, transitional aluminas are considered to be intermediate surface area supports. In accordance with the invention, support portions comprising transitional alumina can have surface areas in the range of about 10 m²/g to about 200 m²/g, or about 40 m²/g to about 180 m²/g, or about 80 m²/g to about 180 m²/g.

As noted above, transitional aluminas can be obtained by heat-treating transitional alumina precursor materials such as gibbsite, boehmite, or bayerite to the desired phase transformation temperature. Processing can involve heat treatment of a transitional alumina precursor into transitional alumina, in the form of delta or theta alumina, or combinations thereof. Other techniques rely upon direct synthesis via a wet chemical processing, such as through hydrolysis of aluminum alkoxide.

In another embodiment, transitional alumina material can be formed through a seeded processing pathway, such as that described in PCT/US2005/042048 (“Transitional Alumina Particulate Materials Having Controlled Morphology and Processing for Forming Same,” Bauer et al.) and U.S. Patent Publication No. 2008/0003131 A1 (“Transitional Alumina Particulate Materials Having Controlled Morphology and Processing for Forming Same,” Bauer et al.). The transitional alumina can be present as a mass of particulate material, composed of particles that may be fully dispersed, partially agglomerated, or fully agglomerate. In the dry form, the particulate material may be in the form of a powder. This process typically includes providing a boehmite precursor and boehmite seeds in a suspension, sol or slurry. The suspension, sol or slurry can be heated treated (such as by hydrothermal treatment) to convert the boehmite precursor into boehmite particulate material formed of particles or crystallites. Heat treatment is then carried out to the boehmite particulate material to effect polymorphic transformation into transitional alumina.

The transitional alumina precursor can be heat treated by calcination at a temperature sufficient to cause transformation into a transitional phase alumina, or a combination of transitional phases. Typically, calcination or heat treatment can be carried out at a temperature greater than about 250° C., but lower than about 1100° C. At temperatures less than 250° C., transformation into the lowest temperature form of transitional alumina, gamma alumina, typically will not take place. At temperatures greater than 1100° C., typically the precursor will transform into the alpha phase. According to certain embodiments, calcination is carried out at a temperature greater than 400° C., such as not less than about 450° C. The maximum calcination temperature may be less than about 1050° C. or 1100° C., these upper temperatures usually resulting in a substantial proportion of theta phase alumina, the highest temperature form of transitional alumina.

When it is desired to form a substantial content of delta alumina, the transitional alumina precursor can be calcined at a temperature lower than about 950° C., such as within a range of about 750° C. to about 950° C. In some embodiments, calcination can be performed at temperatures above about 750° C., or above about 775° C., or above about 800° C., to avoid transformation into a predominant gamma phase alumina.

Calcination of the transitional alumina precursor can be carried out in various environments including controlled gas and pressure environments. Because calcination is generally carried out to effect phase changes in the precursor material and not chemical reaction, and since the resulting material is predominantly an oxide, specialized gaseous and pressure environments need not be implemented in most cases.

Typically, calcination can be carried out for a controlled time period to effect repeatable and reliable transformation from batch to batch. Calcination times typically range from about 0.5 minutes to about 60 minutes, typically about 1 minute to about 15 minutes.

Generally, as a result of calcination, the alumina material used to form the support portion is predominantly (more than 50 weight percent) transitional alumina. The precise makeup of transitional alumina phases may vary according to different embodiments, such as a blend of transitional phases. In some embodiments, a predominant amount of a particular transitional phase can be present, such as at least about 50 weight percent, or at least about 60 weight percent, or at least about 70 weight percent, or at least about 80 weight percent, of a desired transitional phase. In further embodiments, the transitional alumina can comprise essentially a single phase of transitional alumina (e.g., at least 95 weight percent, or at least about 98 weight percent, or even up to about 100 weight percent of a single phase of transitional alumina). As discussed herein, the particular phase(s) of transitional alumina can be determined by XRD.

Illustrative aluminas suitable for inclusion in the support portion include delta, theta, gamma/delta, gamma/theta, delta/theta, and theta/alpha phases. In some embodiments, when alpha alumina is included in the alumina support portion, it can be present in an amount that is about 49 weight percent or less. In some embodiments, when gamma alumina is included in the alumina support portion, it can be present in an amount that is about 49 weight percent or less. In still further embodiments, the support can include one or more of the following additional alumina transitional phases: kappa, eta, rho, chi alumina, and combinations thereof.

In accordance with inventive aspects, the alumina is combined with a second metal oxide to provide an acidic mixed metal oxide. Illustrative second metal oxides include oxides that, when combined with the alumina, can provide sufficient surface acidity to serve as a support portion for the catalyst composition. Some binary metal oxides are known to have surface acidity and have been used as solid acid catalysts, such as silica-alumina and alumina-boron oxide. Additional mixed metal oxides that may generate surface acidity can be determined using the hypothesis described by Tanabe et al. (A New Hypothesis Regarding the Surface Acidity of Binary Metal Oxides, Bulletin of the Chemical Society of Japan, 47(5):1064-1066 (1974)).

Useful second metal oxides comprise at least one element selected from Group IIA, IIIA, IVA, VA, VIA, IIB, IIIB, IVB, VB, VIB, VIIB and a rare earth element of the Periodic Table. Illustrative second metal oxides in accordance with some embodiments include silicon, lanthanum, magnesium, zirconium, boron, titanium, niobium, tungsten and cerium. In some embodiments, the second metal oxide can comprise silicon.

In exemplary preparations, the support portion includes the second metal oxide in an amount in the range of about 5 weight percent to less than 50 weight percent (based upon the weight of the support portion), or more specifically in an amount in the range of about 5 weight percent to about 35 weight percent.

Acidic mixed metal oxides can be prepared by one skilled in the art. Such known preparation methods include coprecipitation of metal salts, sol-gel techniques, ion exchange, mechanical mixing, and incipient wetness or precipitation on metal oxides.

The inclusion of an acidic mixed metal oxide comprising transitional alumina in the support portion along with the low metal loading can provide improved catalyst compositions. For example, catalyst compositions in accordance with the invention can include surprisingly low (e.g., 20 weight percent or less) concentrations of catalytic metals. Reduction in the amount of catalytic metals required to provide the desired activity and selectivity can provide significantly lower catalyst costs. Surprisingly, the low-metal loaded catalyst compositions of the invention demonstrate high activity and selectivity for the transamination of EDA to DETA. The catalyst compositions do not require the presence of a precious metal for this activity and selectivity. Given this, the presence of a precious metal such as rhenium is able to be eliminated or at least significantly reduced from the composition. The catalyst is active at moderate temperatures and pressures and can provide good selectivity to the desired product (DETA) while minimizing cyclic products such as PIP and AEP.

The acidic mixed metal oxide support portion can be provided in any convenient morphology. The shape of the support will typically depend upon the shape required by the particular apparatus used to perform the transamination reaction. Catalyst compositions can be made on supports in the form of particles, powders, spheres, extrudates, pellets (cut extrudates), trilobes, quadrilobes, rings and pentarings. In some embodiments, particles can have an elongated morphology, which can be described generally in terms of the particle's aspect ratio. The aspect ratio is the ratio of the longest dimension to the next longest dimension perpendicular to the longest dimension. Alternatively, particles can have a platelet-shape, wherein the particles generally have opposite major surfaces, the opposite major surfaces being generally planar and generally parallel to each other.

Morphology of the support portion can be further described in terms of support portion size, more particularly, average support portion size. Average support portion size can be described as the average longest or length dimension of the support material. Average support portion size can be determined by taking multiple representative samples and physically measuring the support material sizes found in representative samples. Such samples may be taken by various characterization techniques, such as by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In some aspects, the support portion can be provided in the form of an extrudate. Extrudates ranging in diameter of about ⅛″ (3.175 mm) or less can be useful, for example in the range of about 1/32″ (0.79375 mm) to about ⅛″. Another useful form of the support portion is a trilobe. Trilobes having a diameter of about ⅛″ or less can be useful, for example in the range of about 1/16″ (1.5875 mm) to about ⅛″. Yet another useful support form is a sphere, such as spheres having a diameter of 3 mm or less.

In addition to the shape and average support material size, yet another useful way to characterize morphology of the support portion is to describe the specific surface area of the support portion. The acidic metal oxide complex can be provided with a range of surface areas (m²/g), as measured by the commonly available BET technique. According to embodiments herein, the support portion can have a relatively high specific surface area, generally not less than about 10 m²/g, such as not less than about 40 m²/g, or not less than about 80 m²/g, or not less than about 90 m²/g. Since specific surface area is a function of particle morphology as well as size, generally the specific surface area of embodiments can be less than about 200 m²/g, such as less than about 150 m²/g, or less than about 100 m²/g. In some embodiments, the surface area can be in the range of about 80 m²/g to about 180 m²/g.

Other useful characteristics of the support portion include pore volume (expressed as Hg intrusion values or N₂ values), and water absorption (expressed as a percentage of the dry sample weight). Illustrative pore volume (Hg pore symmetry) ranges are about 0.3 cm³/g to about 1 cm³/g. The percent water absorption is not narrowly critical since the catalyst portion is less than 25 percent and can be easily incorporated using incipient wetness techniques known to one skilled in the art. Another characteristic of the support is the median pore diameter. Again the median pore diameter is not narrowly critical over the surface area of the invention. Additionally, the pore size distribution may be unimodal or multimodal (e.g., bimodal, trimodal, etc).

Various methods can be carried out for depositing the one or more metals of the catalyst portion on the catalyst support. In some modes of practice, the one or more metals of the catalyst portion are associated with the support portion by impregnation. Impregnation is particularly suitable for this process, since lower metal loadings are used.

Although impregnation is one mode of preparing the catalytic support, other methods can be used to deposit the catalytic metal(s) on the support portion. For example, the metal(s) can be deposited on the support material by co-precipitation, sol-gel techniques, chemical vapor deposition, or ion exchange. These alternative methods are well known in the art and can be used for the preparation of the catalyst support if desired. In order to describe the process of depositing the catalytic metal(s) with the support, steps of an impregnation method will be described.

As a general matter, the process of depositing the catalytic metal(s) can be performed to provide a support with a desired amount of the one or more metals. As used herein, the total amount of the catalytic metals in the compositions is referred to herein as the “catalyst portion,” and the amount of the catalyst portion is expressed as a percentage by weight of the catalytic composition. According to the invention, the catalyst portion has an amount of one or more metals of 25 wt. % or less of the total weight of the catalyst composition. Lower amounts of the catalyst portion can be used, such as about 20 wt. % or less of the total weight of the catalyst composition. A catalyst composition that is 10 wt. % of the catalyst composition has 10 g of a catalyst metal, or a combination of catalyst metals, associated with 90 g of the support.

While the invention features that the catalyst portion has an amount of one or more metals of 25 wt. %, lower amounts of the catalyst portion can be used, such as about 20 wt. % or less of the total weight of the catalyst composition. Generally, the catalyst portion includes enough of the one or more metals sufficient to provide a desired catalytic activity when used in an amination process, such as transamination. The invention shows that lower amounts can be used which provide an economic advantage while still providing desirable catalytic activity and selectivity. For example, in some modes of practice the amount of metals in the catalyst portion is in the range of about 3 wt. % to about 18 wt. %, about 3 wt. % to about 13 wt. %, or about 5 wt. % to about 10 wt. % of the weight of the catalyst composition. Lower (below 3 wt. %) amounts of the catalyst portion may be used, although it is understood that catalytic activity at a given temperature may be decreased as well. Although lower catalytic activity may be acceptable in some catalytic methods, most others would benefit from higher levels (i.e., above about 3 wt. %).

The catalyst composition includes a catalyst portion wherein rhenium is not present in the catalyst portion, or, alternatively, used only in very small amounts. For example, in many modes of practice the catalyst composition is prepared without including rhenium when the catalyst metal(s) is deposited on the catalyst support. Any rhenium present in the catalyst portion is desirably less than 0.01 wt. %, or less than 0.005 wt. %. Other precious metals providing activity comparable to rhenium can also be excluded from the catalyst portion. Examples of other precious metals are rhodium, platinum, palladium, and iridium. Again, these types of precious metals can be excluded from the catalyst composition altogether, or used in very small amounts. The elimination of most or all precious metals from the catalyst composition provides economic advantages, including lower catalyst costs.

One exemplary catalyst composition includes a catalyst portion with cobalt in an amount of less than 25 wt. %, about 20 wt. % or less, in the range of about 3 wt. % to about 13 wt. %, or in the range of about 5 wt. % to about 10 wt. % of the catalyst composition. In one exemplary catalyst composition, cobalt is present in an amount of about 7.0 wt %.

Another exemplary catalyst composition includes a catalyst portion with nickel in an amount of less than 25 wt. %, about 20 wt. % or less, in the range of about 3 wt. % to about 18 wt. %, or in the range of about 5 wt. % to about 15 wt. % of the catalyst composition. In one exemplary catalyst composition, nickel is present in an amount of about 7.0 wt %.

Another exemplary catalyst composition includes a catalyst portion with copper in an amount of less than 25 wt. %, about 20 wt. % or less, of the catalyst composition.

The catalyst portion can also include a mixture of two or more metals. In some aspects, the two or more metals are selected from the group consisting of cobalt, nickel, and copper. An exemplary combination of metals in the catalyst portion is a combination of cobalt and nickel. Another exemplary combination is a combination of cobalt, nickel, and copper.

If the catalyst portion includes a mixture of two or more metals, the metals can be present in the catalyst portion in a predetermined weight ratio. In some cases, the weight ratio of the two metals in the catalyst portion is in the range of about 1:9 to about 9:1. In more specific cases, the weight ratio of the two metals in the catalyst portion is in the range of about 1:4 to about 4:1.

As an example, the catalyst portion includes a combination of cobalt and nickel. In some aspects, one of the metals (cobalt or nickel) is present in an amount in the range of about 1 wt. % to about 2.5 wt. %, and the other metal (cobalt if nickel is selected first, or nickel if cobalt is selected first), is present in an amount in the range of about 4.2 wt. % to about 6.0 wt. %. In other aspects, both of the metals (cobalt are nickel) are present in similar concentrations, for example both nickel and cobalt are present, individually, in an amount in the range of about 2.5 wt. % to about 4.5 wt. %.

Exemplary catalyst portions include the following combination of metals: cobalt at about 1.7 wt. % and nickel about 5.1 wt. %; cobalt at about 1.7 wt. % and nickel about 5.1 wt. %; cobalt at about 3.4 wt. % and nickel about 3.4 wt. %; and cobalt at about 1.13 wt. % and nickel about 5.63 wt. %.

As another example, the catalyst portion includes a combination of cobalt, nickel, and copper. In some aspects, the copper is present in an amount in the catalyst portion that is less than the cobalt or nickel. In other aspects, both of the metals (cobalt are nickel) are present in similar concentrations, for example both nickel and cobalt are individually present in an amount in the range of about 6.0 wt. % to about 9.0 wt. %, and copper is present in an amount in the range of about 2.0 wt. % to about 5.0 wt. %. An exemplary catalyst portion includes the following combination of metals: cobalt at about 7.4 wt. %, nickel about 7.4 wt. %, and copper at about 3.2 wt. %.

The selectivity of the catalyst composition may be further enhanced by the use of metal promoter. The promoter may be a metal (or oxide) which when incorporated into the catalyst composition further enhances the productivity and/or selectivity in the amination reaction. Metals or oxides for use as promoters (optionally used in addition to the one or more of cobalt, nickel, or copper present in the catalyst portion) are compounds containing elements selected from Group IA, Group IIA, Group IIIA, Group IVA, Group VA, Group VIA, Group VIIA, Group VIIIA, Group IB, Group IIB and Group IVB of the Periodic Table (IUPAC format). Examples of metals include, but are not limited to, chromium, zinc, sodium, calcium, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, strontium, lithium, potassium, barium, cesium, lanthanum, tungsten, iron, silver, titanium, niobium, aluminum, tin and mixtures of these metals.

Metal promoters can be added to the catalyst composition by co-impregnation or to the support either before or after incorporation of the one or more of cobalt, nickel, or copper salts. One or more metal promoters can be added to the catalyst composition in a desired amount(s). Typically, the metal promoters are present in an amount not greater than the one or more of cobalt, nickel, or copper, in the catalyst composition on a weight percent basis.

In some modes of practice the metal or metals of the catalytic portion are deposited on the support using an incipient wetness technique, often referred to as incipient wetness impregnation (IW or IWI). In this technique an active metal precursor (or combination of active metal precursors) is dissolved in an aqueous or organic solution. The metal-containing solution (“impregnation solution”) is added to a catalyst support. Often, the impregnation solution is added in a volume that is the same as the pore volume of the support. Capillary action draws the impregnation solution into the pores of the support. The impregnated support can then be dried and calcined to drive off the volatile liquids of the impregnation solution. This process deposits the catalytic metal or metals on the surface of the support portion.

In some modes of practice, an aqueous solution of a salt of the metal is prepared (the impregnation solution). If more than one metal is to be immobilized on the support, the impregnation solution can include a mixture of salts of the desired metals. Alternatively, if more than one metal is to be immobilized on the support, more than one impregnation solution can be prepared. The impregnation solution can be saturated with the one or more metal salts, or the one or more metal salts can be used in amounts less than saturation. The concentration of the one or more metal salts in the impregnation solution can depend on factors such as the desired amount of metal(s) to be deposited on the support, and the solubility of the particular metal salt(s) used in the process.

Inorganic and/or organic salts can be used to prepare the impregnation solution. Organic and inorganic salts of cobalt include, but are not limited to, cobalt bromide, cobalt carbonate, cobalt chloride, cobalt fluoride, cobalt hydroxide, cobalt nitrate, cobalt nitrate hexahydrate, cobalt oxalate, cobalt perchlorate, cobalt phosphate, and cobalt sulfate. A cobalt-containing impregnation solution can be prepared containing one or more of these cobalt salts. In one mode of practice cobalt nitrate hexahydrate is used to prepare an impregnation solution.

Organic and inorganic salts of nickel include, but are not limited to, nickel nitrate hexahydrate, nickel formate, nickel acetate tetrahydrate, nickel acetate, nickel chloride, nickel carbonate and the like. A nickel-containing impregnation solution can be prepared containing one or more of these nickel salts. In some modes of practice, nickel nitrate or nickel formate is used to prepare the impregnation solution.

Organic and inorganic salts of copper include, but are not limited to, copper gluconate, copper formate, copper chloride, copper bromide, copper fluoride, copper hydroxide, copper nitrate hydrate, copper sulfate pentahydrate, and copper pyrophosphate hydrate. In some modes of practice, copper nitrate hydrate is used to prepare the impregnation solution.

In many modes of practice, the one or more metals to be deposited on the support are dissolved in a suitable solvent, such as deionized water, for preparation of the impregnation solution.

One or more impregnation solutions can be prepared to provide the type(s) and total amount of metal(s) to be deposited on the support portion. Since a lower amount of metal is associated with the support, the total amount of metal can be deposited in a limited number of applications. For example, the total amount of metal deposited can be applied in one, two, three, or four applications. Although an impregnation solution can be prepared with a high concentration of metal salt (i.e., a minimal amount of water), in some cases the total amount of the impregnation solution to be applied may be more than what the alumina support can hold by absorption. Therefore, in some modes of practice, the impregnation solution is applied to the support in multiple steps, wherein a portion of the impregnation solution about equal to the absorption volume of the support is applied to the support in one application step. Incorporation of additional metal(s) into the support may be further increased by techniques known to those skilled in the art, such as increasing the time the support is in contact with the solution.

The impregnation solution can be applied to the support using various methods. For example, the solution can be applied processes such as drip application, by immersion (e.g., dipping), or by spraying. During application, the support can be agitated by processes such as mixing, tumbling, stirring, or shaking. Mechanical equipment can be used to facilitate agitation. Agitation during the application of the impregnation solution can increase the uniformity of the impregnation solution applied to the support.

After all or a portion of the impregnation solution is applied to the support, the support can be dried. In the drying step, the liquid which solvates the metal salt is volatized and removed from the support. The drying may be accomplished by any technique that sufficiently evaporates the volatile constituents of the impregnation solution. The drying step can comprise a calcination step, as further discussed herein. Multiple drying steps can be performed if the impregnation solution is applied in more than one step. Therefore, an overall process for preparing the catalyst composition can include multiple steps of disposing the application composition, and then drying the impregnated support. The steps of depositing and then drying can be performed until all of the impregnation solution is used.

Typically, the impregnated support is dried at a temperature of above 100° C. The elevated temperature can also be accompanied by a reduced pressure environment to accelerate removal of the liquid from the support. The support can be dried in air or in the presence of an inert gas, such as nitrogen. Drying is carried out for a period of time sufficient for removal of most or all of the liquid of the impregnation solution. In some modes of practice, the step of drying is performed for a period of about one hour or more at elevated temperatures.

The process of preparing the catalytic composition can also involve one or more steps of calcining the support. One or more steps of calcining the support can be performed in the absence of the catalytic metals, and optionally in the presence of the catalytic metals, or both.

In some modes of practice, given the high heat of calcination, drying and removal of the liquid component of the impregnation solution occurs. Therefore, as used herein, calcination of the support meets the requirements of the drying step or steps, which are typically performed following application of the impregnation solution. In addition, calcination can cause conversion of the metal salts into oxides. The choice of a particular calcination temperature can depend on the decomposition temperature of the salts used.

Calcination normally takes place at temperatures below the melting point of the materials used to form the support portion of the catalytic composition. For example, calcination is typically performed in the range of about 200° C. to about 1200° C., and more typically in the range of about 300° C. to about 500° C. A calcination step can take for a period of time in the range of a minute to hours (e.g., two or three or more hours). Calcination can be carried out in the presence of air, or under inert gas. In one mode of practice, cobalt nitrate hexahydrate is deposited on the support portion. The impregnated support is then calcined at a temperature of about 340° C.

In some modes of practice calcination is performed after one or more steps of applying the impregnation solution. After all of the impregnation solution has been applied the metal-loaded support can be calcined for a longer period of time to ensure substantial removal of the impregnation solution liquid. For example, in some specific modes of practice, the impregnation solution is applied to the support in two or more steps, with calcination at about 340° C. for about one hour in air performed after each step of applying, with a final calcination at about 340° C. for about one hour in air.

Following metal impregnation and calcination, the catalyst composition can be reduced, converting the metal oxides produced in the calcination step to the reduced metal form. Typically, the metal-containing support is reduced in the presence of hydrogen. The metal-containing support can be contacted with hydrogen gas at a temperature that is about in the same range as that used for calcination. The process of reduction can be carried out from about 30 minutes to about 24 hours, or more.

Following reduction, the catalyst composition can be stabilized with gentle oxidation. Typical stabilizing treatments involve contacting the reduced catalyst composition with oxygen or carbon dioxide. For example, in one mode of practice, the catalyst composition is treated with about 1% O₂/N₂. Prior to using in an animation reaction, the catalyst composition can be activated with hydrogen.

After impregnation and drying/calcination (with optional reduction) the catalyst composition can optionally be stored or handled in an inert environment.

In some aspects, the invention relates to methods for making a catalyst composition in a manner that reduces or minimizes mass transfer resistance for the transamination of the amine-containing solution. Various techniques are known in the art to account for mass transfer resistance in supported catalysts. Some illustrative methods for addressing mass transfer resistance include: adjusting the morphology of the catalyst composition, selecting the form of the catalyst composition (e.g., by providing a thin coating of the active catalyst metals on the surface of the support), and/or the selecting the size of the catalyst particles.

Accordingly, in some embodiments, the morphology of the catalyst composition can be controlled to reduce or minimize mass transfer resistance. For example, PCT Publication No. WO 2006/060206 (“Transitional Alumina Particulate Materials Having Controlled Morphology and Processing for Forming Same,” Bauer et al.) describes alumina particulate material that contains particles comprising transitional alumina having an aspect ratio of not less than 3:1 and an average particle size of not less than about 110 nm and not greater than 1000 nm. Various shaped particles are described, including needle-shaped particles and platy-shaped particles.

In other embodiments, the catalyst portion is deposited on a porous support portion so that at least the active catalyst metals are provided in a very thin outer layer or “egg shell” structure, so as to minimize mass transfer resistance for the amine-containing solution. This catalyst structure can also lower the active metal requirement for the catalyst composition, and/or maximize contact of the active metals with the amine-containing elements within the reaction solution.

Thus, in accordance with these embodiments, useful catalyst composition diameters can be in the range of about 0.8 mm to about 3.1 mm; surface area can be in the range of about 10 m²/g to about 200 m²/g; catalytically active metal concentration can be in the range of about 1 weight percent to about 25 weight percent, and the catalyst portion can be provided as a thin outer shell on the support portion.

Methods described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,851,948 can be utilized to create a similar “egg shell” structure for the present inventive catalyst compositions. For example, the catalytic metals comprising the catalyst portion (here, nickel and rhenium) can be added to the support portion as a thin outer layer or shell on the support portion. This small thickness for the catalyst portion can be influenced by the flow characteristics of the nickel and rhenium salts and a suitable carrier liquid solution of an alcohol and water, the porosity and surface area of the support portion, and the diffusion rate of the active metal liquid solution into the porous support portion. The flow characteristics of the nickel and rhenium in the alcohol-water carrier liquid having low surface tension is controlled so as to initially form a “cluster”-type structure of the nickel and rhenium in the carrier liquid on only the outer surface of the support portion. Such “cluster” type structures are formed because of valence differences between ions of the active nickel and rhenium and molecules of the alcohol carrier liquid, and such larger “clusters” effectively impede penetration of the active metal into smaller size pores of the support material. During the subsequent drying, reducing and calcining steps for making the catalyst, the carrier liquid is destroyed and removed so that only the active metals remain in uniformly dispersed sites in the thin outer “egg-shell” structure on the support portion. Suitable alcohol carrier liquids may include ethanol, methanol and isopropanol.

This technique of depositing an active metal such as nickel and/or rhenium in a thin layer or shell on only the outer surface of the support portion advantageously provides a high localized concentration of the active metals on the catalyst outer surface, where it is readily contacted by the amine-containing compounds in the reaction solution. Techniques described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,851,948 (Chuang et al., “Supported Catalyst and Process for Catalytic Oxidation of Volatile Organic Compounds”) can be instructive in accordance with these embodiments of the invention.

Catalytic metal can also be deposited on the surface of the support portion according to techniques described by Komiyama et al. (“Concentration Profiles in Impregnation of Porous Catalysts: Nickel on Alumina,” J. of Catalysis 63, 35-52 (1980)). Utilizing the principles described by Komiyama et al., radial concentration profiles in the catalyst compositions can be formed by impregnating the support portion with aqueous catalytic metal (e.g., nickel) solutions. In accordance with the present invention, a base can be used with nickel-formate to achieve surface deposition of nickel on alumina supports. More specifically, the pH effect on adsorption has been utilized to achieve surface impregnation of nickel by coimpregnating alumina supports with nickel formate (Ni(HCOO)₂.2H₂O) and aqueous ammonia. The result was surface deposition of the nickel on the alumina supports. These principles can be further applied to catalyst compositions including more than one catalytic metal (e.g., more than one of cobalt, nickel, and/or copper).

In still further embodiments, internal mass transfer resistance can be controlled by selecting a desirable particle size for the support portion. As discussed in European Patent Application No. EP 1249440 A1 (“Process for Preparing Linear Alkylbenzenes,” Wang et al.), both the catalyst particle size and porosity can be adjusted to provide a desired conversion and catalytic stability.

In use, the catalyst composition is added to promote an amination reaction, such as a transamination process. The amount of catalyst composition that is used to promote an amination reaction can be determined based on one or more of the following factors: the type and amount of reactants, the reactor (reaction vessel) configuration, the reaction conditions (such as temperature, time, flow rate, and pressure), the degree of conversion to a desired product(s), and the selectivity desired (i.e., the ratio of the desired product over an undesired product). The catalyst composition is present in the reaction zone in sufficient catalytic amount to enable the desired reaction to occur.

The catalyst composition can be used for promoting a transamination reaction, such as the transamination of a lower aliphatic alkane derivative. In one exemplary mode of practice, the catalyst composition is used for promoting the transamination of ethylenediamine (EDA) to diethylenetriamine (DETA). The general reaction for the process is shown below:

The use of the catalyst composition will now be described with more specificity for the transamination of EDA to DETA. EDA is a colorless liquid with an ammonia-like odor and has molar mass of 60.103 g/mol, a density of 0.899 g/cm³, a melting point of 9° C., a boiling point of 116° C. EDA is miscible in water and soluble in most polar solvents.

The products found in the reaction mixture (i.e., the output of the reaction) include transaminated products, with diethylenetriamine (DETA) being the desired product in many modes of practice. Triethylenetetraamine (TETA) may be also be found, which results from the further reaction of DETA with EDA. Higher order polyamines formed in a similar manner may also be present in the reaction product mixture. Piperazine is also a transamination product, which is desirably present in lower amounts in some modes of practice. Aminoethylpiperazine (AEP) is also formed in the reaction mixture. The reaction products may also include unreacted ethylenediamine, ammonia (which is eliminated in the transamination reaction), and hydrogen.

The products in the reaction mixture are normally subjected to a separation step. In the separation step hydrogen and ammonia (the low molecular weight compounds) are separated from unreacted ethylenediamine and the transamination products by fractional distillation. Hydrogen and ethylenediamine are typically returned to the process.

Operating conditions can be chosen to provide a desired rate of conversion, which has been shown to affect the selectivity for the desired product. In particular, conditions are established to provide a certain rate of conversion of EDA, resulting in a desired selectivity for DETA. For purposes of this invention, “BOA conversion” refers to the total weight percentage of reactant (e.g., EDA) lost as a result of reactions. The conversion can vary depending upon factors such as the reactants, catalyst, process conditions, and the like. In many embodiments, the conversion (e.g., of EDA) is at least about 10%, and desirably less than about 50%, and in some modes of practice in the range of about 20% to about 40%. The temperature of reaction can be selected to provide a desired degree of conversion, which is discussed further herein. In some modes of practice the desired conversion of EDA is about 25% or more, such as in the range of from 25% to 65%.

For purposes of the invention, “selectivity” refers to the weight percentage of converted reactant(s) that form a desired transaminated product, such as DETA. In some modes of practice the percent selectivity to DETA is about greater than 50%, greater than 65%, such as in the range of about 65% to about 75%. Like conversion, selectivity will vary based upon factors including the conversion of the reactant(s), feed reactants, catalyst, process conditions, and the like.

The mixture of reaction products can also be defined in terms of the weight ratio of two products in the mixture. Typically, ratios useful for assessing the quality of the reaction mixture are of a desired product to an undesired product (e.g., DETA/PiP), or desired product to a different desired product (DETA/TETA). For example, the mixture of reaction products can be described in terms of the weight ratio of DETA to piperazine (DETA/PIP) at an EDA conversion of 25%. In some modes of practice, the catalyst composition of the invention is used in a transamination reaction to provide a DETA/PIP ratio of about 10:1 or greater, about 10.5:1 or greater, about 11:1 or greater, about 11.5:1 or greater, or about 12.0:1 or greater, such as in the range of about 10:1 to about 13:1, about 10.5:1 to about 13:1, about 11:1 to about 13:1, about 11.5:1 to about 13:1, or about 12:1 to about 13:1.

The weight ratio of TETA to PIP may also be useful for determining the selectivity of the reaction. In some modes of practice, the catalyst composition of the invention is used in a transamination reaction to provide a TETA/PIP ratio at an EDA conversion of 25% of about 1:1 or greater, about 1.1:1 or greater, about 1.2:1 or greater, about 1.3:1 or greater, or about 1.4:1 or greater, such as in the range of about 1:1 to about 1.5:1, about 1:2 to about 1.5:1, about 1:3 to about 1.5:1, or about 1:4 to about 1.5:1.

Using the catalyst composition of the present invention, transamination can be performed using any suitable method and reaction equipment. For example, transamination can be carried out using a continuous process, a semi-continuous process, a batch-wise process, or a combination of these processes. The transamination process using the catalyst composition of the present invention can be carried out in conventional high-pressure equipment with a heating feature. The equipment can have one or more features which cause movement of the reactants and/or catalysts in the equipment, such as an agitator or pump. Various reactor designs can be used, such as a stirred-tank, fixed-bed, slurry, or fluid-bed reactors. The reactors can be designed for liquid-phase, gas-phase, multi-phase or super-critical conditions.

In some modes of practice, the reactant (e.g., EDA) is provided to the reaction bed that includes the catalyst composition as a stream, the stream having continuous flow. The reactant feed can be upflowing or downflowing. Design features in the reactor that optimize plug flow can also be used. Effluent from the reaction zone is also a stream comprising the unreacted components of the feed stream (such as EDA) and the reaction products (DETA). In some modes of practice, a liquid EDA is established in an upflow direction into the catalyst bed. In some modes of practice, a flow rate is established to provide a space velocity in the range of about 5 gmol/hr/kg catalyst to about 50 gmol/hr/kg catalyst, with an exemplary space velocity of about 15 gmol/hr/kg catalyst.

The transamination reaction can be carried out with little or no hydrogen. However, as an optional component, hydrogen gas can be present during the transamination reaction. In some cases, hydrogen may facilitate the production of the reaction product, and inhibit or reduce poisoning of the catalyst. If desired, hydrogen can be included prior to and/or within the transamination reactor in an amount sufficient to affect catalyst activity and product selectivity. Exemplary amounts of hydrogen include 0.001 to 10.0 mole % based on liquid feed. A source of hydrogen gas can optionally be combined with the ethyleneamines source and fed to the transamination reactor.

Optionally, ammonia can be used affect selectivity by inhibiting undesired reactions.

Generally, reaction temperatures for transamination process fall within the range of about 110° C. to about 180° C., and in desired modes of practice a reaction temperature in the range of about 130° C. to about 160° C. is used. The temperature can be varied throughout the reaction process, and may fluctuate up to about 30%, or up to about 20% of the starting temperature. The temperature of reaction can be selected to provide a desired rate of conversion. In many modes of practice, the temperature is chosen to provide a relatively low rate of conversion.

Typical reaction pressures range from about 200 psig to about 2000 psig, about 400 psig to about 1000 psig, and in some desired modes of practice the pressure is about 600 psig.

The catalyst compositions of the present invention can be used in the methods described in any one of the Assignee's U.S. Patent Applications, listed and titled as follows:

U.S. Provisional Patent Application having Ser. No. 61/195,404 and entitled, “A PROCESS TO SELECTIVELY MANUFACTURE DIETHYLENETRIAMINE (DETA) AND OTHER DESIRABLE ETHYLENEAMINES VIA CONTINUOUS TRANSAMINATION OF ETHYLENEDIAMINE (EDA), AND OTHER ETHYLENEAMINES OVER A HETEROGENEOUS CATALYST SYSTEM”, filed Oct. 6, 2008 in the name of Petraitis et al., now U.S. Ser. No. 12/587,372 and published as U.S. 2010/0087683;

U.S. Provisional Patent Application having Ser. No. 61/195,405 and entitled, “METHODS FOR MAKING ETHANOLAMINE(S) AND ETHYLENEAMINE(S) FROM ETHYLENE OXIDE AND AMMONIA, AND RELATED METHODS” filed Oct. 8, 2008 in the name of Do et al., now U.S. Ser. No. 12/587,358 and published as U.S. 2010/0087684;

U.S. Provisional Patent Application having Ser. No. 61/195,412 and entitled, “METHODS OF MAKING CYCLIC, N-AMINO FUNCTIONAL TRIAMINES” filed Oct. 6, 2008 in the name of Stephen W. King, now U.S. Ser. No. 12/587,338 and published as U.S. 2010/0094007; U.S. Provisional Patent Application having Ser. No. 61/195,454 and entitled, “METHOD OF MANUFACTURING ETHYLENEAMINES” filed Oct. 6, 2008 in the name of Petraitis et al., now U.S. Ser. No. 12/587,350 and published as U.S. 2010/0087681;

Further, reagents and/or methods described in these co-pending applications can be incorporated by reference to further describe the use of the catalyst composition of the present invention.

Aspects of this application are related to the following Assignee's U.S. Patent Application having Ser. No. 61/195,455, and titled “LOW METAL CATALYST COMPOSITIONS INCLUDING ACIDIC MIXED METAL OXIDE AS SUPPORT” filed on Oct. 6, 2008 in the name of King et al., now U.S. Ser. No. 12/587,351 and published as U.S. 2010/0087682.

The invention will now be described with reference to the following non-limiting Examples.

Example 1 Catalyst Preparation

Unless otherwise noted, low concentration metal loaded catalyst compositions were prepared using the following generalized procedure. Table 2 includes a list of catalyst compositions that were prepared, and Table 3 includes a list of commercially available supported catalysts that were used for comparative purposes.

Precursor salts of the metals (the nitrate salts of cobalt, nickel, and copper, unless noted in Table 2) were dissolved in 70-80° C. water to form an impregnation solution. The final volume of the impregnation solution was adjusted to equal the adsorption volume required for the number of times that the support was impregnated, and the quantities of the precursor salts were those calculated to give the metal compositions provided in the Examples. In each case the support was impregnated to incipient wetness by the addition of the appropriate amount of impregnation solution and gently agitated until all the liquid was adsorbed. The sample was then placed in a muffle furnace and calcined in air for one hour at 340° C. or as otherwise specified in the Examples. When the support had cooled, additional impregnations were performed until all of the solution had been added. A calcination step at 340° C. was done after each impregnation.

For example, to prepare 6.8% cobalt on transitional (theta) alumina-silica support a cobalt solution was prepared by dissolving 19.93 g cobalt nitrate hexahydrate into 74 mL deionized H₂O. The solution was added in two steps with an one hour calcination (in air) at 340° C. between additions, and a 3 hour calcination after the final addition.

The transitional (theta) alumina-silica support was prepared having the composition Al₂O₃/SiO₂, 80:20 (wt), with a surface area of 150 m²/g, and PV of 0.880 cc/g, formed into ⅛″ extrudates. The catalyst was reduced at 340° C. for 3 hours, and then stabilized using 1% O₂/N₂.

Catalyst Activation

Fifty (50) grams of the catalyst were charged to a 0.688 inch ID tube reactor, along with 50 cc fine glass beads (approx. 60 mesh). The reactor was heated in a sandbath to 180° C. with hydrogen flowing at 30 slph, and held at these conditions for 16 hours. Following activation, hydrogen flow was reduced to 3 slph, and temperature stabilized at 120° C. for one hour prior to starting liquid feed.

Liquid EDA (ethylenediamine) feed was established in an upflow direction to give a space velocity of 15 gmol/hr/kg catalyst. The mole ratio of hydrogen to EDA was established at 0.18. The reactor was pressured to 600 psig and lined out at 124° C. for 22 hrs. before collecting data. While maintaining the foregoing flow conditions, the temperature was adjusted to cover a 20-40% range of conversion. The temperature was varied in a range from 124° C. to 146° C. A one hour timed sample was collected at each temperature and analyzed by GC. The catalyst test was run for 487 hrs.

The cobalt catalyst was compared to a 6.8% nickel/1.8% rhenium (Example 1-A) and a 6.8% nickel-only catalyst prepared on the same alumina-silica carrier, and using like preparation techniques.

The catalyst compositions with low metal loading and not including rhenium provided an increased weight ratio of low molecular weight, linear polyamines to higher molecular weight and/or cyclic polyamines in the product stream. The low metal loaded catalyst compositions are highly advantageous for converting EDA into DETA at high selectivities with relatively less PIP and higher polyamines in the product mix. The low metal loaded catalyst compositions of the invention also had activities, and selectivities to DETA, that were comparable to the nickel/rhenium catalysts. The catalysts of the present invention that are shown in Table 2, which do not include rhenium, provide an economic advantage over ones that include a precious metal.

In example 1-D, nickel formate was used, resulting in deposition of the nickel on the outside of the carrier, as a shell.

In example 1-H, the carrier was in the shape of a tri-lobe, which minimizes diffusional effects.

The commercially available catalysts listed in Table 3 use various metals, at various loadings. However, these catalysts but do not use the transitional alumina support material featured as featured in the catalysts of the present invention, such as exemplified throughout Table 2.

TABLE 2 Carrier Temp, ° C. SA for 25% % Sel DETA/ % AEP TETA/ DETA/ Example Metals Carrier (m²/g) EDA conv. to DETA PIP in DETA PIP TETA A Ni/Re (6.8/ alumina (theta)/silica 151 134 69.50 12.41 0.24 1.34 9.23 1.8 wt. %) (80:20) 1/16″ extrudate B Ni (6.8 wt. %) alumina (theta)/silica 107 144 68.14 11.07 0.57 1.28 8.66 (80:20) ⅛″ extrudate C Ni (6.8 wt. %) alumina (theta)/silica 151 151 67.12 11.76 0.58 1.46 7.91 (80:20) 1/16″ extrudate D Ni (6.8 wt. %)^(a) alumina (theta)/silica 107 144 69.01 12.06 0.48 1.38 8.56 (80:20) ⅛″ extrudate E Ni (6.8 wt. %)^(a) alumina (theta)/silica 151 156 68.05 8.97 0.75 0.98 9.08 (80:20) 1/16″ extrudate F Ni (13.0 wt. %) alumina (theta)/silica 151 142 68.52 12.28 0.34 1.40 8.77 (80:20) 1/16″ extrudate G Ni (13.0 wt. %)^(b) alumina (theta)/silica 151 142 68.74 12.51 0.32 1.42 8.87 (80:20) 1/16″ extrudate H Ni (13.0 wt. %)^(c) alumina (delta/theta) silica 90 151 67.43 11.48 0.71 1.36 8.26 (70:30) 1/16″ trilobe I Ni (20.0 wt. %) alumina (theta)/silica 107 155 60.14 5.13 1.95 0.53 9.36 (80:20) ⅛″ extrudate J Ni (20.0 wt. %) alumina (theta)/silica 151 141 67.62 11.70 0.60 1.50 7.78 (80:20) 1/16″ extrudate K Ni/Co (3.4/ alumina (theta)/silica 151 138 69.49 12.25 0.30 1.32 9.27 3.4 wt. %) (80:20) 1/16″ extrudate L Ni/Co (5.1/ alumina (theta)/silica 151 142 68.67 12.46 0.32 1.46 8.51 1.7 wt. %) (80:20) 1/16″ extrudate M Ni/Co (1.7/ alumina (theta)/silica 151 138 68.25 9.65 0.21 0.91 10.62 5.1 wt. %) (80:20) 1/16″ extrudate N Ni/Co (5.67/ alumina (theta)/silica 151 143 68.69 12.09 0.38 1.48 8.03 1.13 wt. %) (80:20) 1/16″ extrudate O Ni/Co (3.4/ delta/theta mixed alumina 103 162 66.77 8.49 0.34 0.90 9.49 3.4 wt %) with 1.2% La2O3 1 mm sphere P Ni/Co/Cu (7.38/ alumina (theta)/silica 151 140 69.38 12.90 0.28 1.29 9.99 7.38/3.24 wt. %) (80:20) 1/16″ extrudate Q Ni/Co/Cu (7.79/ gamma alumina 1/16″ 250 151 67.71 7.80 0.60 0.83 9.59 7.79/3.42 wt. %) extrudate SA = 250 R Co (6.8 wt. %) alumina (theta)/silica 107 131 69.21 9.67 0.22 0.89 10.79 (80:20) ⅛″ extrudate S Co (6.8 wt. %)^(d) alumina (theta)/silica 107 135 68.14 9.10 0.26 0.89 10.18 (80:20) ⅛″ extrudate T Co (6.8 wt. %)^(d) alumina (theta)/silica 151 142 70.99 11.85 0.20 1.07 11.03 (80:20) 1/16″ extrudate U Co (6.8 wt. %) alumina (theta)/silica 151 139 69.01 11.75 0.17 1.11 10.35 (80:20) 1/16″ extrudate V Co (6.8 wt. %) alumina (theta)/silica 107 130 67.43 8.92 0.16 0.99 9.01 (80:20) ⅛″ extrudate W Co (6.8 wt. %) alumina(theta)/silica 150 139 68.54 9.48 0.17 0.97 9.75 (80:20) ⅛″ extrudate X Co (6.8 wt. %) alumina(theta)/silica 170 138 68.29 8.89 0.24 0.88 10.09 (80:20) ⅛″ extrudate Y Co (6.8 wt. %) alumina(theta)/silica 250 144 68.99 8.91 0.21 0.83 10.67 (80:20) ⅛″ extrudate Z Co (6.8 wt. %) theta alumina 1/16″ 127 159 67.58 7.92 0.27 0.79 9.99 extrudate AA Co (6.8 wt. %) gamma alumina 1/16″ 251 147 67.13 8.05 0.34 0.74 10.82 extrudate BB Co (6.8 wt. %) silica/alumina (98:2) 68 143 65.32 8.09 0.75 0.91 8.77 1/16″ extrudate CC Co (6.8 wt. %) high purity silica 1/16″ 144 144 65.68 6.79 0.67 0.62 10.82 extrudate DD Co (6.8 wt. %) high purity zirconia 98 171 47.94 2.26 2.84 0.25 8.92 ⅛″ extrudate EE Co (6.8 wt. %) titania 1/16″ extrudate 45 171 58.28 4.01 1.43 0.46 9.08 ^(a)made from nickel formate ^(b)reduced at 440° C. ^(c)reduced at 400° C. ^(d)made from cobalt acetate

TABLE 3 Temp, ° C. or 25% % Sel DETA/ % AEP TETA/ DETA/ Metals Commercial Catalysts EDA conv. to DETA PIP in DETA PIP TETA Example A Ni (50 wt. %) Sud-Chemie C46-8-03, 50% 147 67.03 9.40 0.60 1.11 8.42 Ni on alumina, 1/16″ trilobe B Ni (50 wt. %) Sud-Chemie C46-7-03, 50% 156 62.89 7.12 1.89 1.03 6.91 Ni on silica-alumina (2:1), 1/16″ trilobe C Ni (50 wt. %) Sud-Chemie C46-8-03, ~50% 143 68.39 10.00 0.50 1.07 9.34 Ni on alumina/silica clay 1/16″ trilobe D Ni (50 wt. %) Sud-Chemie C46-7-03, 50% 137 66.88 10.17 0.49 1.11 9.17 Ni on silica-alumina (2:1), 1/16″ trilobe E Ni (60 wt. %) Engelhard Ni-3288-E, 144 67.22 7.93 0.60 1.03 7.97 alumina/Bentonite (silica)/Ca, 13/13/3 F Ni (57 wt. %) Engelhard Ni-0750-E, Ni on 144 63.82 5.92 0.93 0.63 9.43 gamma alumina, ⅛″ extrudate G Ni (33 wt. %) Engelhard L6630-38A, 33% Ni on 150 66.41 10.49 0.43 1.26 8.18 gamma alumina ⅛″ trilobe H Co (27 wt. %) Engelhard Co-0138-E, 27% 137 68.11 9.07 0.37 0.87 10.42 Co on Si—Al—Ca, 54/4/9, 1/16″ trilobe I Co (14.5 wt. %) DeGussa 14.5% Co on 148 66.19 8.26 0.25 0.95 8.64 alumina (gamma), reduced (in H2O), 1 mm extrudate J Co (15 wt. %) Johnson-Matthey HTC Co 150 66.28 8.15 0.36 0.85 9.71 2000 RP 1.2 mm Co on alumina K Co/Zr (54/2 Sud-Chemie G-67, 54% Co/2% 138 61.17 5.16 0.62 0.71 7.39 wt. %) Zr on Kieselguhr, ⅛″ extrudate L Degussa Metalyst ™ alpha 166 60.93 6.02 1.94 0.90 6.69 1301-X019, ABMC (Raney type), Ni—Al, 3 mm pellets M Degussa Metalyst ™ alpha 172 54.67 4.19 3.38 0.77 5.44 1301-X019, ABMC (Raney type), Ni—Al, 3 mm pellets N Grace-Davison Raney Ni 186 57.70 5.33 2.19 0.72 7.13 5886 fixed bed, Ni—Al (50% Ni), SA = 25, 8-12 mesh O Degussa Metalyst ™ beta 170 53.02 3.90 1.97 0.53 7.29 1350-X008, Raney type, Co—Al, 3 mm hollow sphere Comparative Examples P Ni/Re (6.8/1.8 alumina (theta)/silica (80:20) 134 69.50 12.41 0.24 1.34 9.23 wt. %) 1/16″ extrudate Q Co/Re (6.8/1.8) alumina (theta)/silica 80:20, 131 66.842 6.857 0.412 0.712 9.614 SA = 107, ⅛″ extr R Co/Re (6.8/2.0) alumina (theta)/silica 80:20 148 67.447 6.411 0.393 0.601 10.659 1/16″ extr 

1. A method for transaminating a reactant compound comprising a step of contacting a reactant compound with a catalyst composition comprising: (a) a support portion comprising an acidic mixed metal oxide comprising a transitional alumina and a second metal oxide, wherein the second metal oxide has a weight percentage that is less than the weight percentage of alumina, and (b) a catalyst portion comprising one or more metals selected from the group consisting of cobalt, nickel, and copper, wherein there is no, or less than 0.01 wt. % rhenium in the catalyst composition, and the catalyst portion is 25 wt. % or less of the catalyst composition, and wherein the reactant compound becomes transaminated to an aminated product.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the reactant compound is ethylenediamine (EDA) and the aminated product is diethylenetriamine (DETA).
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein DETA is present in a product mixture containing PIP and the DETA to PIP ratio is in the range of 10:1 to 13:1 at 25% EDA conversion.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the reactant compound is EDA and the aminated product is triethylenetetramine (TETA).
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein TETA is present in a product mixture containing piperazine (PIP) and the TETA to PIP ratio is in the range of 1:1 to about 1.5:1 at 25% EDA conversion.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the reactant compound is EDA which is provided as a liquid feed to the catalyst composition, optionally in the presence of hydrogen.
 7. The method of claim 1 wherein the catalyst portion is 20 wt. % or less of the catalyst composition.
 8. The method of claim 7 wherein the catalyst portion is in the range of 3 wt. % to 18 wt. % of the catalyst composition.
 9. The method of claim 8 wherein the catalyst portion is in the range of 3 wt. % to 13 wt. % of the catalyst composition.
 10. The method of claim 1 where the catalyst portion comprises one or more metals selected from the group consisting of cobalt and nickel.
 11. The method of claim 10 where the catalyst portion comprises cobalt and nickel.
 12. The method of claim 11 wherein the catalyst portion comprises cobalt and nickel in a weight ratio in the range of 1:9 to 9:1.
 13. The method of claim 10 wherein the cobalt is present in an amount in the range of 5 wt. % to 15 wt. %, or nickel is present in an amount in the range of 5 wt. % to 15 wt. %.
 14. The method of claim 1 wherein the catalyst portion comprises no rhenium, or less than 0.005 wt. % rhenium.
 15. The method of claim 1 wherein the transitional alumina comprises theta alumina.
 16. The method of claim 1 wherein the support portion comprises at least 50 weight percent transitional phase alumina.
 17. The method of claim 1 wherein the transitional alumina is at least 80 weight percent of the alumina contained in the support.
 18. The method of claim 1 wherein the transitional alumina comprises a single phase of transitional alumina of at least 95 weight percent of the alumina contained in the support.
 19. The method of claim 1 wherein the second metal oxide is selected from the group consisting of silicon, lanthanum, magnesium, zirconium, boron, titanium, niobium, tungsten and cerium, and the second metal oxide is present in an amount in the range of 5 weight percent to less than 50 weight percent, based upon the weight of the support portion.
 20. The method of claim 1 wherein the support portion is selected from the group consisting of: an extrudate having a diameter of ⅛ inches (3.175 mm) or less; a sphere having a diameter of 3 mm or less; and a trilobe having a diameter of ⅛ inches (3.175 mm) or less. 